Nyala, August 12 (Darfur24)
The Prime Minister of the Sudan Founding Alliance government (TASIS), Mohamed Hassan Al-Ta’aishi, has called on the United Nations and the international community to support efforts to protect and restore education in war-affected areas of Sudan.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Al-Ta’aishi outlined his government’s priorities for restoring education, including rehabilitating schools, providing textbooks and learning materials, training teachers, and developing programmes for displaced and conflict-affected children.
His media office said the letter, titled “Protecting Education in Sudan: Investing in Peace, Recovery and Stability,” was sent as the UN Security Council held an informal session on the state of education in Sudan.
Al-Ta’aishi said education should remain neutral and must not be used as a tool in the conflict. He also reaffirmed his government’s support for international standards protecting education and children during armed conflict, including preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed groups.
He called for cooperation with the UN and international partners on monitoring, technical assistance, and capacity building, as well as support for reopening and rehabilitating schools in war-affected areas.
The call comes amid growing controversy over Sudan’s secondary school certificate examinations. Federal authorities have continued to organize examinations in areas under army control. In contrast, thousands of students in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces have been unable to sit for the exams at official centres. Some students have travelled to government-controlled areas or neighbouring countries to take the examinations.
In June, the government of Darfur and parts of Kordofan organized parallel secondary school certificate examinations for the first time in areas under its control. Organizers said about 10,000 students participated.
The emergence of parallel examination systems has raised concerns about the fragmentation of Sudan’s education system and the recognition of certificates for university admission, both within and outside the country.
The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee has warned against using education as a tool in the political and military conflict and called for a unified national examination that protects students’ rights and preserves the country’s education system.
The National Initiative to Save the Future of Sudanese Certificate Students had earlier proposed a unified examination framework for students in areas controlled by different parties, with neutral and flexible administration, warning that multiple examination tracks could have long-term consequences for students and the unity of the education system.